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What do you get when you cross a yoga-loving ad exec with a house plant-obsessed fashionista? You get Lauren Beach of Boston, Mass.
“My best friend in high school, was the bathroom! I never thought I would be able to have a full-time job or leave my parents’ house.”
Lauren has been living with Crohn’s disease since age 12. You’d think her zest for life would have been tarnished a little over the years. Especially with all the tests, hospital visits, anxiety, and stress that she’s endured from such a young age. The other thing about living with Crohn’s is the constant fear of an attack when the only relief can be found in the restroom. A simple trip to the mall with friends, or to a restaurant or park, was a constant battle for Lauren. Always having to scope out the closest bathroom everywhere she went.
But allowing things like that to beat her down simply isn’t Lauren’s way. She managed to get through school and learned other coping techniques to get by. Lauren’s adult life took a turn when a life-saving emergency surgery at the age of 19 ended up being the exact intervention she needed. Waking up from that surgery, Lauren learned about her new, permanent ostomy. While she appreciated the new freedoms it gave her, she also had to manage new challenges on her plate.
Lauren quickly found her groove. Worries about finding stylish clothes that she could wear, soon disappeared. Fears about dating also went away after a while. And she also found a solution for her sensitive skin, thanks to Convatec skin barrier wipes and adhesive removers. “My ostomy gave me my life back.”
“My ostomy gave me my life back.”
Lauren grabs onto life with both hands, and hates wasting a single moment. She’s gone from hating the sight of her own body, to proudly wearing her ostomy (and her story) as a badge of honor. Once upon a time, Lauren would hide away, but today you’ll find her in a bikini by the pool, or in a tank top out on a hike with her boyfriend.
Products used: Convatec SUR-FIT Natura®+ and Two-Piece Moldable Convex Barrier with the matching bags – opaque w/ filter, velcro closure. She uses a convex barrier to help push her stoma out. She also uses ESENTA™ Adhesive Removers and Skin Barriers and ESENTA™ Lubricating Deodorant.
(Watch Lauren’s full story: here)
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